Queen commends Olympic heroes of Team GB and the Commonwealth

U.S. takes volleyball bronze • The U.S. men’s volleyball team finished in spectacular fashion, with a five-set comeback for the bronze medal over defending champion Russian Federation.

Some of the medallists’ families were present to watch them land, along with Hugh Robertson, Britain’s sports minister at the time of the 2012 Games in London.

American athletes also impressed in track and field, winning 32 medals and 13 golds, highlighted by the first-ever USA podium sweep in the women’s 100-meter hurdles from Brianna Rollins, Nia Ali and Kristi Castlin.

These American women earned all three medals in the 100 meter hurdles event, becoming the first US track and field athletes (men or women) to accomplish the feat in a single event. Forty two out of the 129 American competitors combined for 13 golds, 10 silvers and nine bronzes in individual and team events, giving them four more than their total from the 2012 Summer Games. If the US were divided into two countries, one male and the other female, those 27 golds for the women would tie them with Britain for most of any country, put them one ahead of China, and far ahead of the American men and everyone else.

Two other ex-Trojans-tracksters Allyson Felix of the USA (golds in the 400m relay and 1600m relay and silver in the 400m) and Andre De Grasse of Canada (silver in the 200m and bronzes in the 100m and 400m relay)-each won 3 medals.

It was their first men’s Olympic football gold medal.

For China, the world’s most populous country, it was the worst Olympics for 20 years – especially sobering after topping the standings at Beijing 2008 and finishing second in 2012.

“It shows we are a force to be reckoned with in world sport”, Nicholl said.

While athletes from around the world packed the Rio Games closing ceremony, one of the biggest stars was absent – Brazil soccer great Pele.

“That longer lead time not only creates more entry points for fans to get hooked on the Olympics, it better establishes the incredible stakes involved in athletes who train and compete for the entirety of their lives to get that one shot at a medal”, Wallenstein wrote.

Iran’s 25-year-old weightlifter Kianoush Rostami clinched a gold medal in the men’s 85-kilogram weight category.

“The atmosphere at the GB house has been wonderful in the village”, said Mo Farah, who won gold for Britain in the 5,000- and 10,000-meter races to match the feat he pulled off at London in 2012.

“History will talk about the “Rio de Janeiro before” and the ‘much better Rio de Janeiro after the Games'”. They have collected 309 medals (144 golds, 93 silvers and 72 bronzes).

“I think when we arrived just an hour or so ago it was overwhelming the reception that we got, not just from British Airways but also everyone who is in Terminal 5”.

British swimmer and gold medalist Adam Peaty smiles during a press conference after the Team Great Britain’s return from the Rio De Janeiro Olympics, at Heathrow airport in London, Tuesday, Aug. 23, 2016.

Douglas will walk away from Rio with a gold for the team all-around event for the second time in a row. Overall, the US collected 28 medals in team events, including three golds (basketball and water polo) and two bronzes (indoor volleyball) in traditional team sports.